This is one of the best cast versions of this work albeit mostly excellent Broadway performers that are largely unknown outside of New York. In addition, it incorporates songs from the movie versions of this work that up until the time this production was filmed were never used in stage presentations. These extra songs nicely flesh out the Black characters in the work and prevent them from becoming stereotypes.
This version should be available for purchase on DVD and tape but is not due to the estates of the dead owners of this work. The copyright to this work has been convoluted for years (to say the least) and the lawyers representing R&H, Kern, and Edna Ferber are a greedy lot who are always hoping for a better deal to come along with a new production. IT's not going to happen and they should just let PBS release their version before technology begins to make it look to old to be released.
This version should be available for purchase on DVD and tape but is not due to the estates of the dead owners of this work. The copyright to this work has been convoluted for years (to say the least) and the lawyers representing R&H, Kern, and Edna Ferber are a greedy lot who are always hoping for a better deal to come along with a new production. IT's not going to happen and they should just let PBS release their version before technology begins to make it look to old to be released.